Electromagnetic pumps for conductive fluids



APfl 17, 1956 N. E. LINDENBLAD 2,741,984

ELECTROMAGNETIC PUMPS FOR CONDUCTIVE FLUIDS Filed May 28. 1953 United States Patent ELECTROMAGNETIC PUMPS FOR CONDUCTIVE FLUIDS Nils E. Lindenblad, Princeton,

N. J., assigner to Radio Corporation of America,

This invention relates to devices for raising, transferring or compressing liquids or gases and, more particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, to electromagnetic pumps which may be used with conductive fluids.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided an electromagnetic pump comprising a magnetic member having an air gap therein. A hollow container member of conductive material provided with a plurality of communicating peripheral conduits or ducts is secured within the air gap. A pair of conductive sleeves or collars is secured to the container. A hollow collecting ring of conductive material is disposed adjacent said container and is adapted to communicate with said container by means of the peripheral ducts. Terminal electrodes for the application of a potential of predetermined polarity are disposed in conductive contact with the conductive collars. Conductive fluid is introduced into the container through a duct or conduit provided for that purpose. In operation, a ring or disc of the enclosed conductive uid is traversed by a direct current while also being traversed by'a steady magnetic eld'perpendicular to the current. The conduci tive iluid will thus be made to move or spin in a circular path and to develop a centrifugal force which can be released into pumping effect.

It is an object, therefore, of the present invention to provide means for obtaining a spinning motion in a conductive fluid so that the centrifugal force thus developed can be further utilized.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel direct current electromagnetic pump for conductive fluids.

The novel features which are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity inthe appended claims, but for a better understanding of the invention itself, both as to its organization and method of operation together with other and further objects and advantages, reference may be had to the following de- I,

scription of certain specified embodiments shown merely for illustration taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an illustrative embodiment of a cylindrical means for providing a pump according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in sectional elevation of the device of Fig. 1, the view being taken along the line 2--2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a view partially in cross section, of a planar means for rotating a conductive fluid; and

Fig. 4 is a view in cross section of the device of Fig. 3, the view being taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown an illustrative embodiment of a cylindrical pump constructed in accordance with the teaching of the present invention. A toroidal or doughnut-shaped permanent magnet is provided With a cylindrical air gap 12, and a hollow central chamber or recess 16. The air gap 12 communicates with the hollow interior 14 of the magnet 10. A series of spoke-like peripheral openings or ducts 18 are disposed in one section of the magnet 10. Each one of the ducts 18 communicates with the central recess 16. Two con- 2,741,984 Patented Apr. 17, 1956 ICC centric insulating sleeves 20 and 22 are disposed within the air gap 12. Peripheral openings 24 are providedl in the concentric sleeves 20 and 22, and are adapted to communicate with the ducts 18. Two terminal electrode members 26 and 28, in the form of conductive rings or sleeves, are disposed to surround and to be secured along the respective edge portions thereof between the insulating members 20 and 22. The disposition of the terminal electrode members 26 and 28 is such that a ring or a disc of conductive liquid may be enclosed thereby. A container 29 for a conductive Huid is thus provided. A hollow collecting member or ring 30 is provided for the container 29. The collecting ring 30 is secured to the container 29 by means of the conduits 32 which are adapted to communicate with the ducts 18 in spoke-like arrangement (Fig. l). An inlet conduit 33, communicates with the central recess 16. An outlet conduit 34, communicates with the collecting ring 30. Conductive uid (not shown) is, or may be, introduced into the container 29 through the inlet 33 in the direction of the arrow 36. Application v of a direct current of predetermined polarity to the electrodes 26 and 28 by means of the leads 38 and 40 from a source (not shown) causes a ring of the enclosed conductive uid to be traversed by the current while also being traversed by a steady magnetic field perpendicular to the current which eld is produced or set up by the permanent magnet 10. The conductive fluid will move in a circular path or spin out of the container 29 through the peripheral ducts 18 into the collecting ring 30, emerging finally from the outlet 34 in the direction of the arrow 42. The centrifugal force thus developed can be utilized for pumping action. Direct current is called for in the illustrative embodiment here set forth. However, it is feasible, and in some instances it may be desirable, to use alternating current providing the high losses due to eddy currents are not unreasonable.

Fig. 3 represents an illustrative embodiment of a planar pumping means in accordance with the present invention. A permanent magnet 46 having an enlarged portion 47 at one end thereof is provided with an air gap 48. A central transverse opening or shaft 50 is provided in the enlarged portion of the magnet 46. One portion 51 of the shaft 50 being of reduced diameter, as shown for eX- ample, in the illustration in Fig. 3. A disc-shaped hollow conductive ring or sleeve 52 is disposed within the air gap 48 and thus forms a conductive tluid container 54. The container 54 is separated from the magnet 46 by means of the insulating members 56 and 58 which are secured to opposite faces of the magnet 46 Within the air gap 48. An electrode 60 is provided for the application of a potential to the device from a source (not shown). The electrode is, or may be, secured to the sleeve 52. A second electrode 62 which may, for example, comprise a conductive disc or button is centrally disposed in the magnet 46 and is secured to the container 54 extending through the member 58 so as to be in conductive contact with the conductive fluid (not shown). A conductive connector 64 is disposed in the shaft 50 within a hollow insulating member 66. The opposite portion of the shaft 50 is adapted to contain an inlet conduit 68. The conduit 63, which is insulated from the magnet 46 by means of the insulating member 70, communicates with the central portion of the container 54. An outlet conduit 72 is secured to a peripheral edge portion of the container 54. Conductive fluid is, or may be, admitted to the inlet conduit 68 in the direction of the arrow 74. Application of a direct current to the electrodes 60 and 62 from a source (not shown) by means of the leads 76 and 78 will produce a spinning motion in the conductive uid forcing the fluid out of the container in the direction of the arrow 8i). The centrifugal force thus developed can be utilized for pumping action.

and having a cylindrical gap therein, siad permanent mag` net structure having a central chamber for receiving fluid, said magnet structure having a plurality of openings disposed to extend horizontally radially outwardly from said central chamber, conduit means interconnecting said openings, concentric insulating members disposed adjacent said openings, conductive electrodes in the form of sleeves disposed between said concentric insulating members to thereby provide a container within said chamber to enclose a conductive iuid and to provide electrical contact with fluid in said container, means in communication with said L container to admit iluid to said container, means in communication with said container to direct fluid from said container, and direct current energizing means for energizing said electrodes in Contact with said tluid to provide electric current ilow in a direction prependicular to said magnetic iield whereby said conductive iiuid enclosed in said container is traversed by said direct current while also being traversed by said steady magnetic eld perpendicular to said current so that said uid will move in a circular path.

2. A structure for an electromagnetic pump for conductive fluids comprising a hollow doughnut-shaped permanent magnet, said magnet having a cylindrical air gap, insulating means disposed within said air gap to provide a container for said conductive iiuid, conductive means disposed within the end portions of said insulating means to provide terminals for passing an electric current through said fluid, a collecting member connected to receive iluid from said container by means of ducts, said ducts being peripherally disposed in a spoke-like array, said magnet having a central recess, said central recess being connected to supply fluid to said container, an inlet duct connected to said central recess, and means for passing a direct current through said terminals.

3. A structure for a direct-current electromagnetic pump for conductive fluids comprising a hollow doughnut-shaped permanent magnet, said magnet having a cylindrical air gap, concentric insulating sleeves disposed within said air gap, conductive sleeves disposed within the end portions of said insulating sleeves to form therewith a container for said conductive iiuid and to provide terminals therefor, a hollow ring-shaped collecting member externally disposed relative to said magnet and connected to receive fluid from said container by means of ducts, said ducts being disposed to pass through said magnet adjacent said air gap and being peripherally disposed in a spokelike array, said magnet having a central recess, said central recess being connected to supply iiuid to said container, an inlet duct connected to said central recess, and means for passing a direct current through the terminals provided by said conductive sleeves.

4. A structure for a direct-current electromagnetic pump for conductive uids comprising a hollow doughnutshaped permanent magnet, said magnet having a cylindrical air gap, concentric insulating sleeves disposed within said air gap, conductive sleeves disposed within the end portions of said insulating sleeves to form a container therewith for said conductive iluid and to provide terminals therefor, a hollow ring-shaped collecting member connected to receive fluid from said container by means of ducts, said ducts being peripherally disposed in a spoke-like array, said magnet having a central recess, said central recess being connected to supply fluid to said container, an inlet duct connected to said central recess, and means for passing a direct current through said terminals.

5. A structure for a direct-current electromagnetic pump for conductive fluids comprising a hollow doughnut-shaped permanent magnet, said magnet having a cylindrical air gap, concentric insulating sleeves disposed within said air gap, conductive sleeves disposed within the end portions of said insulating sleeves to form a container therewith for said conductive iluid and to provide terminals therefor, a hollow ringshaped collecting member connected to receive uid from said container by means of ducts, said ducts being peripherally disposed in a spokelike array, said magnet having a central recess, said central recess being connected to supply iluid to said container, an inlet duct passing through the hollow center of said ring-shaped collecting member being connected to said central recess, and means for passing a direct currect through said terminals.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,652,778 Crever Sept. 22, 1953 FORElGN PATENTS 239,816 Switzerland Mar, l, 1946 661,756 Great Britain Nov. 28, 1951 

